Demi Lovato Opens Up About New Mental Health Documentary

"I’m bipolar and proud and I live well with it."

Demi Lovato has always been outspoken about her mental health, from living with bipolar disorder to surviving self-harm, eating disorder, and substance use. By speaking out about what she has faced, she has become an inspiration for those struggling with similar issues. "I realized I could help people," Lovato told Allure last year. When a young role model speaks out "it creates a conversation—there's an opening for children themselves to actually come forward and say, 'This is what I'm dealing with.' Or 'I have a problem. I need help,'" she continued.

And now, she's committing even further to that point of view. Demi Lovato served as executive producer for the upcoming documentary Beyond Silence. The singer visited The Ellen DeGeneres Show this week to discuss the film. "It is about three different people who are living well and now thriving with a mental health condition," she told the talk show host. "I’m bipolar and proud and I live well with it. And I think that that’s the goal for everyone with a mental illness. The reality is, one in five Americans has a mental health condition, so as long as they get the right treatment team in place and the right treatment plan, then they can live well with it."

And not only do the three subjects of the film share the experience of facing mental health diagnoses, but "their lives have been transformed by speaking up for mental health," explains the documentary's website. "The film provides a glimpse into their lives and their diagnoses—which include bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, depression and anxiety—ultimately weaving together a story about how speaking up is key to living well." This ideal aligns well with Lovato's philosophy that speaking out about mental health issues can be powerful, help our quality of life, and destigmatize mental health issues.

Check out Lovato's interview with DeGeneres below, where she also discusses her Grammy Awards performance and dress as well as her badass boyfriend.